River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-06-02

. nth FAZAA4ANE WIS uAAtNtAtrAAuAtfti
Their emissaries We're in every house
hold Escape would have been impos-
sible had l not known the road, by
paths. reliable people and private ford
ing places on the Potomac. Had
stopped and made single inquiry ar
/ rest would have followed. But, driving
| directly to the river. distance of thirty
miles. and calling upon faithful slave
/ whom | knew and who knew the ford.
and giving him ten-dOllar gold-piece
/ To ride ahead of Us, and thus keep Us in
the ford, we made the hazardous trip
I'm Safety md were landed in 1.-The hap
py land of Dixie" ere the sun rose.
When General Lee determined upon
an invasion of Maryland and Pennsyl-
wanna was ordered by General Stuart
to go into Washington city and keep
him informed as to all of the important
movements of the enemy saving that.
an advance would be made into Penn
Sylvania. j lost no time in crossing
the Potomac and getting to nv Wash
ingtOn headquarters. A friend of
mine in the city placed his riding horse
at my disposal. and we arranged how
it could be secured at any hour of the
night OF dav. 1t was not long before
Stuart. at the head of his column of
cavalry. crossed the Potomac singing.
Never mind the weather
But get @ yer double trouble,
We are und for the
Happy land Of Lincoln,
and was between Hooker and Wasing-
ton city. | mounted my horse and
hastened To join the rebel cavalry"
aud led them into the national metrOpo-
lis | passed the line of department
clerks who had volunteered for the
emergency and were in the trenches.
surrounding the city without chal-
lenge. They laughingly called out to
me to '.luoK out. the rebels We're just
over the hill. little dreaming they were
addressing ..rebel scout" then on his
WAY to act as guide to the advancing
troopers
On | rode until | was met by a cou-
rier from Hooker's amy ON his way to
the CITY He advanced upon me with
drawn pistol and when within a few
feet Of me ordered me to halt" which
| Ibid was then ordered to advance
and give an account of myself. BY
NV familiarity with the country | soon
satisfied him | was on my return To my
farm near Rockville and was allowed to
pass on. But il was not long before !
WIS confronted by cavalryman from
Mead's army, who. with carbine up
lifted. ordered me to ''halt." which |
did | soon satisfied MIN and continued
my advance. Almost upon every hill
ton now | could see Yankee vidette
and my progress was 80 slow that Stu
art and his troops passed every accessi-
BILE point without any possibility upon
my part of overtaking him. Had | not
been held under arrest 80 often and so
long Stuart. at the head of his cavalry
corps. would have entered Washington
CITY and, as he afterwards toldme. would
have charged down Pennsylvania ayen-
ne if il had been his last change
When General Burnside was con
reutrating troops at Annapolis. our
authorities in Richmond We're in doubt
a. to his destination. some >uppO>inL he
would take transports and land SOME
where on orr exposed coast, others fear
inw he would. at "A critical time, By
forced marches. pass through Wasa-
ington and reinforce Grant before Lee
could be informed and meet the move
ment. | was therefore ordered to go
10 Annapolis, inspect BurnSide's camps
and ascertain if any preparations were
being made for sea attack. | crossed
the lower Potomac in my citizens suit,
rode into Washington city. and spent a
night i'm making inquiries about Burn
side and his destination. Learning
nothing definite. l put on my Yankee
chaplain's uniform. and with a letter of
Introduction To a staff officer, intfoduc-
inc me as chaplain Of the army, | took
the train for Annapolis.
In few hours was at Burnside's
headquarters, presented my letter of IN
Production. was treated with clerical
consideration. made sufficient inspection
Of the water front to satisfy me that no
sea attack was contemplated, formed a
Judgment n 40 his forces and returned
10 Washington. The negro troops under
Burnside amused me not little, a
they were the first | ever saw in uni
form. | talked with some of them and
found that they prided themselves upon
their soldierly qualities and seemed
eager to meet the ..blOody rebels.
Upon returning To Washington | sent
a dispatch to Richmond by my under
ground line. informing the War De
partment that Burnside contemplated
no sea attack. but would reinforce
Grants left | remained in the city
long enough to see the head of Burn
sides column enter the city, ami then
reached General Lee headquarters in
Hanover before Burnside was in posi-
ton on Grants lines.
had become 50 embroidered by fire.
quent and successful scouts into Wash
ington city; my nerves had become so
trained bv frequent contact with Fed
eraI officers and soldiers; my manner
made imperturable by sudden shocks
and unexpected surprises; my soldier
I life 80 hahituated to this environment.
that had well nigh concluded l was
not born to be hung or shot. and was
ready to shake hands with Stanton or
dine with Grant. Meeting a friend
/ who was clerk in the War Depart
ment was informed that an important
+ paper would be in his office in a few
Y davS-a tabulated statement, which
would be an interesting document 10
the Confederate War Department. He
would make copy of il and leave it
upon his desk at .'lunch hour, if
could devise any way to secure IT,
told him l would walk into his office
myself aud get it if he would guaran-
tee il 10 be ON his desk At n specified
hour. This was dore. and as the
crowd Of clerks were passing in and
out aud about during '.lunch hour
walked into the War Department of
Washington to the room Of my friend.
winked at him as passed MIN in the
throng. got the paper and walked out
a. composedly as StantOn's private sec.
retary could have done. and before
. : sI,,- eNs.s 20, Ia =